Madonna falls to Trinity

January 17, 2013

WEIRTON - Morgantown Trinity put on a shooting clinic Wednedsay night the likes of which hasn't been seen in the Dube Dome in quite a while, as it blasted Madonna 70-56.

The Warriors made more three-pointers (12 of 32) than two-pointers (11 of 32) as they eased to their seventh win in 13 games.

The Blue Dons have struggled with turnovers all season long and it wasn't much different Wednesday night as they had 20 miscues.

Article Photos

UP STRONG — Madonna’s James Carnes goes up for two of his team-high 15 points over a Morgantown Trinity defender during the Blue Dons 70-56 loss Wednesday at the Dube Dome. -- Fred Younce

"We keep making mental mistakes," said George Vargo, Madonna coach. "Mental mistakes are turnovers. We average about 22 turnovers a game. It keeps on haunting us. We haven't been able to cut down on them, even after nine games.

"You have to give the other teams credit, too, because often it is their defense that creates those turnovers. I thought Trinity played a very good ballgame today. Man, they put a shooting exhibition on. They shoot a lot of threes and they shoot them well."

The loss dropped Madonna's season record to 2-7.

Trinity seniors Cody Triplett and Anthony Ghiardi combined for 53 of their team's 70 points. Triplett, a four-year starter, found the range on five bombs from three-point land while Ghiardi hit four from behind the arc. The 6-foot-6 Triplett also pulled down six rebounds.

"Triplett is a real nice ballplayer," Vargo said.

One of the bright spots for Madonna is the 15 points that 6-6 sophomore, James Carnes tossed in.

"Carnes has been consistent for us, but as a team we haven't been consistent" Vargo said. "Collectively, our first eight players haven't played together well. We haven't found our chemistry. It is getting to the point where we can't keep blaming it on youth and inexperience."

Another bright spot for the Blue Dons was the play of Josh Martin. The 6-foot-11 junior came off the bench to record the first double-double of his career, getting 10 points and 10 rebounds.

"It was nice to see Martin do that. He played an outstanding game tonight," Vargo continued. "That's what we need out of that big man. As we move forward, if Martin can continue to do that it will help Tyler (Ewusiak) and (Nate) Guio. It will allow them to take a break. That's what you need to do in today's basketball. You need to rotate nine guys, keeping fresh people in there and not wearing them down."

By the time the teams reached halftime, Trinity held a commanding 38-22 lead and Triplett already had 19 points and four of his three-pointers and Ghiardi had 12 points.

When Ghiardi tossed in a layup with 3:13 left in the third period and his team ahead 55-31, Vargo threw in the towel. He substituted his reserves and one of them, seldom used sophomore Caleb Baier, found nothing but net on three of the four three-pointers Madonna had in the game to finish with nine points.

Despite the lopsided loss, the Blue Dons shot pretty well, making 23 of 62 shots for 37 percent. However, Madonna made only six of 15 chances at the foul line. The Blue Dons travel across Weirton Heights Friday to face city rival Weir High, a team they beat 55-27 on Dec. 28 to win the City Championship. Fans have been asked to bring items of non-perishable goods that will be donated to the Community Breadbasket.